Israel struck the Gaza strip by air and sea. Gaza's health minister said 10 people were killed; two of them young children, but that number appears to be climbing.

Itâs the worst barrage on the Palestinian territory in about four years. Thatâs despite a truce that ended a weekend of violence in which seven Palestinians were killed and several Israelis injured.

An Israeli military spokesperson, Avital Leibovich, told Al Jazeera English all options are on the table in the operation theyâre calling Pillar of Defense. The Israeli military (@IDFSpokesperson) sent out a Tweet saying the âIsraeli Navy has struck terror sites in the Gaza Strip.â The Israeli military said it was the beginning of a major offensive and warned that it could escalate with a ground attack. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said today that Israel is "prepared to expand the operation."

Palestinian militants have retaliated with rocket fire. The Israeli military says its "Iron Dome" defense system has intercepted 13 rockets from Gaza.

The Obama administration is giving its support to the Israeli airstrikes. In a statement, State Department spokesperson Mark Toner denounced Hamas militants and others in Gaza for a barrage of rocket fire into southern Israel. And he said the U.S. backs Israel's right to self-defense.

The White House Press Corps did not ask President Obama about the strikes on Gaza during a press conference today.

Here's video from IDF posted on YouTube. "IDF Pinpoint Strike on Ahmed Jabri, Head of Hamas Military Wing"

some information from the Associated Press was used in this report

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